BLOG: Treating retina patients in the COVID-19 era
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Never has medicine changed so drastically in such a short time — the COVID-19 pandemic has left nothing untouched.
As physicians, we’re all trying to stay strong from both a health and financial standpoint as we try to outrun this tidal wave that is right behind us.
Just weeks ago, our approach to medicine followed a straightforward and linear path. We called our patients. They came in. We saw them. We sent them home. Those days are gone, and we may not see them again. If patients are even allowed to visit us, by the time they arrive at our office, they’ve already received several communications and multiple screenings to check for changes in their health status and exposure risk. Then, it starts to get weird. Unless absolutely necessary, they must come in alone. After a temperature check and another health survey, they enter an office where everyone wears a mask, chairs are at least 6 feet apart, and nobody faces each other. It’s uncomfortable and unusual, and patients are scared. As physicians, we can ease some of the fear by changing the way we treat our patients.
Reduce unnecessary exposure
Our most effective strategy is to reduce unnecessary exposure. This means offering durable treatments that require less monitoring. I have found that MicroPulse laser therapy (Iridex) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion and central serous retinopathy can replace, or at least reduce, the frequency of anti-VEGF shots while increasing the time between patient follow-up visits.
MicroPulse laser therapy requires dilation, so patients may spend a few more minutes in the exam/treatment room. However, because it is aseptic, there is no need to administer Betadine in the eye or prep a patient for a sterile procedure.
Diffuse office circulation
Streamlining office visits to minimize patient touchpoints and office time is an important safety consideration. We can no longer have our patients rotating through waiting rooms, workup rooms, testing and exam rooms, and treatment areas. At our offices, patients bypass the waiting room and go directly to a screening/exam room. When possible, we consolidate the entire visit into one room. Having a designated treatment room for patients receiving laser therapy also helps ensure patients are not in too many places.
Times are strange, and we cannot possibly predict the extent of the coronavirus factor. However, we can look to technology for effective, durable and minimally invasive treatment options. Our patients need to know that they are receiving the best treatment for their eyes from doctors who care about and will protect their overall health.
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